1. family and parenting
2. children

2A
THE SUNDAY STAR, HAMMOND, LA
Death Notices
PAUL JOSEPH “P.J” BILLIOT
Paul Joseph “P.J” Billiot, 13, of Loranger, died May 29; funeral
noon Monday, St. Dominic Catholic Church, Husser; interment
in church cemetery; Harry McKneely and Son Funeral Home,
Hammond.
EDWARD DUCKETT
Edward Duckett, 82, formerly of Hammond, died ; funeral
11 a.m. Monday, Jacob Schoen and Son Funeral Home, New
Orleans; interment at Holly Gardens Cemetery, Hammond.
LONNIE GAIL OCKERT
Lonnie Gail Ockert, 71, of Ponchatoula, died May 30; no
funeral; Brandon G. Thompson Funeral Home.
DELORIS RUSSELL
Deloris Russell, 61, of Ponchatoula, died May 27; funeral 11
a.m. Tuesday, New Zion Baptist Church, Ponchatoula; interment
at Ponchatoula Cemetery; N.A. James Funeral Home.
ODA KENNON TATE JR.
Oda Kennon Tate Jr., 76, of Ponchatoula, died June 1; funeral
MABEL A. TAYLOR
Mabel A. Taylor, 98, of Baton Rouge, died May 29; funeral 11
a.m. Monday, chapel of Harry McKneely and Son Funeral Home,
Hammond; interment at Greenlawn Cemetery, Hammond.
ROY LEE WOOD
Roy Lee Wood, 88, of Amite, died May 31; funeral 1 p.m.
Tuesday, First Baptist Church, Amite; interment at Edwards
Cemetery, Amite; McKneely Funeral Home, Amite.
Tributes
PAUL JOSEPH “P.J” BILLIOT
Paul Joseph “P.J” Billiot, 13 years old of Loranger, La. and
formerly of Lafitte, La., passed away Wednesday, May 29, 2013
in Crown Point, La.
He was born December 28, 1999, in
Marrero, La. Paul was an honor roll student
entering into the eighth grade at Loranger
Middle School.
He is survived by his parents: mother,
Frances Mandella Billiot, step-father, Sandy
Adams, father, Raymond Joseph Billiot, Sr; sisters, Darnelle Billiot Root, Tonia Billiot Dardar,
Lesley Vullo, Cheyenne and Angel Billiot;
maternal grandmother, Charlene Mandella; and
Billiot
numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.
He is preceded in death by his brothers, Raymond Joseph, Jr
and Christopher Billiot; paternal grandparents, Clifford and Viola
Billiot; and maternal grandfather, Frank Joseph Mandella Sr.
Visitation will be held at St. Dominic Catholic Church, in
Husser on Monday, June 3, 2013 from 9 a.m. until the Mass of
Christian Burial begins at 12 p.m.
A memorial fund has been set up in Paul’s name to help with
funeral expenses at First Gauranty Bank.
Interment will follow in the St. Dominic Catholic Church
Cemetery in Husser, La.
An on-line guest book is available at www.harrymckneely.com
EDWARD DUCKETT
Edward Duckett was born on Feb. 2, 1931 in Hammond,
Louisiana to the union of Phil and Bessie Lewis Duckett. They
were hardworking and loving mentors to their 11 children,
Edward being the youngest. The Ducketts were raised in a loving, God-fearing community and Edward was
baptized at the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church
in Hammond. Edward served his country in
the US Army during the years of 1953-1955.
Immediately after completing his tour of duty,
he spent two years in college working toward
a degree in business administration. He then
spent 25 years as a roofing foreman with Atlas
Roofing.
He was married for 33 years to Annie Mae
Duckett
Mack Duckett and was the father of one
son, Edward Duckett Jr.
During Hurricane Katrina, Edward was
evacuated to Houston and became a permanent resident at Park Manor Nursing
Home-Cypress Station. Although he was
a reserved individual, Edward made friends at Park Manor and
enjoyed helping out. Edward or “Unc” as he was known to his
family, was generous, loved his family dearly, and was very
attentive to details. He enjoyed watching football, basketball,
and baseball, and every morning he read the Houston Chronicle.
Card playing was one of his favorite hobbies, along with staying
informed about current world affairs. Mr. Duckett was well-loved
by scores of friends and family members.
He was preceeded in death by his parents, Phil Duckett and
Bessie Lewis Duckett; his brothers, Philip Duckett and Timothy
Duckett; and his sisters, Fannie Duckett Elliott, Emma Clark,
Flora Duckett Gorman and Rose Duckett Samm. He leaves to
mourn his son, Edward Duckett Jr. (Vanessa); his grandson,
Omar Robertson; his brother, Robert Lewis Duckett; four generations of nieces and nephews and a host of cousins.
Family and friends are invited to the Funeral Service on
Ponchatoula city court
offers Amnesty Week
Ponchatoula Municipal Court will hold Amnesty Week this Monday
through Friday.
Anyone who has an
outstanding warrant for a
traffic ticket, a balance
owed on a traffic ticket or
any misdemeanor charge
can get their fees waived
for failing to appear in
The Daily &
Sunday
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court and will only have to
pay the original fine plus
a $50 administrator fee,
Mayor Bob Zabbia said.
Hours of collection will
be between 9 a.m. to 3
p.m. Only cash or money
orders will be accepted
for Amnesty Week.
Call 985-370-7500 with
any questions.
SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013
Monday, June 3 at 11 a.m. in the chapel of Jacob Schoen and
Son Funeral Home, 3827 Canal St., New Orleans, La. Visitation
will begin at 10 a.m. and continue until service time.
Interment will be in Holly Gardens Cemetery, Pecan Street,
Hammond, La.
Condolences can be expressed at www.schoencanalstreet.
com
LONNIE GAIL OCKERT
Age 71, a native of Westwego and resident of Ponchatoula,
Lonnie joined her husband on Thursday, May 30, 2013 at
her residence. Lonnie was retired from the Jefferson Parish
Sherriff’s Office, after 31 years of dedicated service. She was a
member of the Fraternal Order of Police and
enjoyed reading and doing crossword puzzles.
Lonnie leaves behind her children, Gene
Gerald Ockert and Gerri Frances Ockert, along
with her grandchildren, Justin Gerard Ockert,
Seth Mikel Ockert, Austin Joseph Ockert,
John “JJ” Joseph O’donahue, Lynn Frances
O’donahue. She is also survived by her brother, Arthur Byrd.
Preceding Lonnie in death were her husOckert
band, Russell Ockert and parents, Austin and
Gail LaBruyere Byrd.
There will be no services held.
Condolences and other information are available online at
www.thompsoncares.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Brandon G. Thompson
Funeral Home.
DELORIS RUSSELL
Deloris Russell, 61, native of Hammond and resident of
Ponchatoula, passed away on May 27, 2013 at Lallie Kemp
Medical Center.
She is survived by her husband Sylvester “Pap” Russell; three
sons, Reginald Sims, Derrick Sims and Leslie
Carter; four sisters, Doris Knighten, Audrey
Legard, Linda Williams and Cynthia Sims; and
two brothers, Leroy Sims and Lionell Sims.
She also leaves six grandchildren and a host of
other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents,
Alonzo and Beatrice Sims, and brothers Alonzo
Jr., Herman and Freddie Sims.
Services will be held at New Zion Baptist
Russell
Church in Ponchatoula on Tuesday, June 4,
2013. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until Pastor
Bruce Graves begins funeral services at 11 a.m. Interment will
follow at Ponchatoula Cemetery.
N. A. James Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Please sign the guestbook at www.NAJamesFH.com
ODA KENNON TATE JR.
Oda Kennon Tate Jr., 76 years old of Ponchatoula, passed
away Saturday, June 1, 2013, at North Oaks Medical Center.
He was born on Wednesday, July 15, 1936, in Natalbany.
Mr. Tate was a loyal and dedicated member of Happy Woods
Church of God. He was the former business
owner for 36 years with Tate’s Welding and
Lawn Mower Repair Service in Ponchatoula.
Mr. Tate was a very dedicated husband, father
and grandfather.
Surviving are his wife, Shirley Robinson
Tate; two daughters, Lynda Arlene Tate and
Janet Tate Dominguez and husband, Dale A.
Dominguez; three grandchildren, Derick R.
Steadman and wife Kristie, Jason K. Steadman
Tate
and wife Brittany, and Brenan A. Dominguez;
four great-grandchildren, Mason, Maddox, Michael and Jayce;
and nephew, Rodney P. Tate.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Oda Kennon Tate, Sr.
and Viola Lenoir Tate; and brother, Prentice Clyde Tate.
Friends will be received at Harry McKneely and Son Funeral
Home in Ponchatoula, Wednesday, June 5, 2013, from 10 a.m.
until the funeral service at 1 p.m. in the funeral home chapel.
Interment will follow in the Ponchatoula Cemetery.
An on-line guest book is available at www.harrymckneely.com
MABEL A. TAYLOR
Mabel A. Taylor passed away on Wednesday, May 29, 2013,
at the home of her daughter, Lanelle T. Drago, where she lived
in Baton Rouge, La. for the last 21 years.
She was born on Jan. 7, 1915 in Frost, La.
Mable was married to Cecil Taylor in August 1938, settling in
Hammond, La.
She worked in the Southeastern Louisiana College Bookstore
for 30 years, retiring in 1974.
She is survived by her daughter, Lanelle T. Drago and her
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husband, Raymond; one granddaughter, Lisa Drago; two
grandsons, David and his wife Tiffany Drago, and Mark and his
wife Cecilia Drago; four great-grandsons, Corey and his wife
Jaime Deno, Peyton, Brandon, and Justin Drago; two greatgranddaughters, Katelyn Ohmer and Julia Drago; and one greatgreatgrandson, Gavin Deno.
She is also survived by one sister, Juanita and her husband
Frank Bateman, and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil Taylor; four
siblings, Rufus, Alsay, and Billy Addison and Eula Wheeler.
Mrs. Taylor was a charter member of Woodland Park Baptist
Church in Hammond, La.
Visitation and services will be held Monday, June 3, 2013
at Harry McKneely and Son Funeral Home in Hammond from
9 a.m. until the funeral begins at 11 a.m. in the funeral home
chapel.
Interment will follow in Greenlawn Cemetery in Hammond.
The family would like to thank St. Joseph Hospice.
A guest book is available at www.harrymckneely.com.
ROY LEE WOOD (LT. COL. U.S. ARMY RET.)
Roy Lee Wood, loving husband, father, grandfather and greatgrandfather, passed away at his home on May 31, 2013 in the
early morning.
He was born Aug. 11, 1924, was a native of
Enon, La. and a longtime resident of Amite.
He was a retired U.S. Army Lt. Colonel,
having first enlisted at the age of 14. He
served in the Pacific during World War II, the
post-Korean War negotiations in Panmunjom,
and in Army Intelligence at the Pentagon. He
readied an artillery battalion for the Vietnam
War and served with NATO in Europe. Colonel
Wood retired in 1967 after serving 30 years.
wood
He then graduated from the Paul M. Hebert
Law Center at Louisiana State University
and practiced law in Amite from 1970 until
the mid-1990s. He was an active forester,
farmer, surveyor, conservationist and
historic preservationist. Passionate about
native Longleaf Pine and indigenous plant species, he was committed to reforesting his land after Hurricane Katrina.
Col. Wood is survived by his wife of 67 years, Lyda Camille
Yates Wood; four daughters, Lyda Sue Wood Madison and husband, Bernard L. Madison, of Fayetteville, Ark., Alice Jane Wood
Hallmark of Amite, La., Gail Marie Wood Martinez and husband,
Alfredo Martinez of Patzcuaro, Mexico, and Amanda Lee Wood
Barnett and husband Barry M. Barnett of Alexandria, La.; and
brother John Jewel Wood of Lacombe, La. He is survived by 13
grandchildren, Eva Camille Madison Pieper and Blair Bernard
Madison (Sue’s children); J. Arthur Smith IV, Grace Wood Smith
Martin, and Marie Clare Hallmark Verdin (Jane’s children);
Dominic Carlo Marcello, Katherine Marie Marcello, Thomas
Anthony Marcello, and Elizabeth Marie Marcello (Gail’s children);
and Katherine Camille Barnett, Lee Austin Barnett, Marcus
Wood Barnett, and Lily Elizabeth Barnett (Amanda’s children);
and four great-grandchildren, Samuel David Pieper, Isla Utilia
Madison, Victor Garrett Marcello, and Everett Grant Verdin.
He was preceded in death by an infant brother; his parents,
Eustace and Ada Lee Wood; mother-in-law and father-in-law,
Camille and Fred Yates; son-in-law, Roger Hallmark; and granddaughter, Anna Marie Marcello.
Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 5 p.m. until
8 p.m. on Monday and at First Baptist Church, Amite, from 12
noon until religious services at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, June 4, 2013.
Services conducted by Rev. Mike Foster.
Interment at Edwards Cemetery, Amite.
For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.
985.277.5550
Areas of Practice Include:
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Location:
41601 Veterans Ave., Ste. 200
Hammond, LA 70403
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